As the clock struck midnight on Halloween, The New York Public Library released a surprise edition of Insta Novels: “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe. This version of the classic poem was illustrated by Studio Aka (@studioaka) and is available to read on the Library's Instagram account  (@nypl).

Insta Novels reimagine Instagram’s Stories feature as a way to provide a new platform for some of the most iconic stories ever written. They were first launched in August 2018 with a digital version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Magoz (@magoz). In October, Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story "The Yellow Wallpaper," illustrated by Buck (@buck_design), was released to read on the Library's Instagram account. The program, created by independent advertising and creative agency Mother in New York and developed in partnership with the Library, aims to make these stories more widely available, reach new audiences, and turn a space for fleeting interactions into one for immersive reading.
 

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Surprise Release: "Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." ⠀ It's #Halloween, and Edgar Allan Poe's haunting classic The Raven is now live on #InstaNovels. To start reading, check @nypl's Highlights for the full story.

A post shared by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Oct 31, 2018 at 3:00am PDT

How to Read "The Raven" on Instagram

First, go to the Library's Instagram account (@nypl) and tap "The Raven" in the highlights section, right under the bio.

Rest your thumb on lower right part of the screen to hold the page, and lift your thumb to turn the page. (The lower right thumb holder is designed to double as a flip book: if you lift your thumb and let the pages flip, you'll see an animation.)

Did you miss the previous Insta Novels of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or "The Yellow Wallpaper?" You can still read the Insta Novel editions by locating them on our virtual bookshelf in the highlights section of the Library's Instagram account (@nypl).

If you don't have Instagram or want to explore other ways to read "The Raven" this Halloween, check out these other ways to read the poem.

"The Raven" Readalikes

If you like "The Raven," you may enjoy these creepy poems, short stories, and novellas by authors old and new.

“Because I Could Not Stop for Death” and other poems in the Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson

The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes

The Best of Richard Matheson

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle

Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson

In the Footsteps of Dracula: Tales of the Undead Count, ed. by Stephen Jones
 

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Explore Poe at NYPL

Our Print Collection is home to an illustrated edition of “The Raven.” This one has been digitized, and can be viewed as part of our Digital Collections. The lithographs are by artist Edouard Manet, and were created in 1875.
 

Halloween Books for Kids

Before delving deep into the genre that surrounds the spooky day known as Halloween, why not learn how it all began? After that, look through our creepy guide to some spine-chilling children’s horror books. Parents, beware—some of these books might even have you squirming in your seat! Need more than just words to put you in the Halloween mood? Check out some spooky picture books as we remember the popular cartoonist Charles Addams, creator of the eccentric Addams Family. After you carve your own NYPL pumpkin pull some last minute costume ideas from our curation of DIY costume books. Happy scaring!
 

Other Halloween Reads for Adults

Start off your Halloween by learning about the very real events of the Salem Witch Trials. Now, if you’re looking for some truly horrifying books, look no further than  the genre of gothic horror. Maybe you enjoy more emotion in your horror? Gothic romance has got what you want. (Because let’s be honest, love can be a little scary sometimes, too.) For our adolescent horror fans look for a contemporary young adult gothic fiction story. Growing up is scary, wouldn’t you agree? But what could be more scary than having the place where you sleep be haunted! To drown out the sounds of the ghouls and monsters listen to The Librarian Is In Podcast for some professional advice on how to stay in the spooky mood. Have fun sleeping with one eye open.
 

Read on SimplyE from The New York Public Library

The stories featured on Insta Novels are also available on SimplyE, The New York Public Library's free e-reader app, available on the App Store or Google Play.

Anyone can browse classic titles, including "The Raven," "The Yellow Wallpaper," Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and The Metamorphosis, in the SimplyE Collection in the app. Those eligible for library cards from The New York Public Library can also access 300,000+ e-books, from bestellers to classics, by connecting to NYPL in the app.

 

Other Ways to Read the Stories

There are many ways to read or listen to "The Raven," “The Yellow Wallpaper," Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and The Metamorphosis. Anyone can access the full texts of the stories on the Project Gutenberg website. NYPL cardholders can check out the books and audiobooks via the NYPL catalog. Also, you can find many of the stories by searching the online catalog of NYPL's Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library.

 

Knowledge Is Power: Get a Library Card

Not a library card holder yet? Sign up now and you’ll get a special edition “Knowledge Is Power” card, available for a limited time only.  With your library card, you can access a whole host of free things: millions of books, newspapers, and databases; the Library’s world-renowned research collections; free passes to over 40 cultural organizations; streaming documentaries; and online classes, just to name a few. Current cardholders can get the special edition card by visiting a NYPL location and paying the standard $1  card replacement fee.